Kokopo War Museum (Kokopo Museum)
P. O. Box 1879
Rabaul, East New Britain, PNG
Tel 675-982-8453 | Fax 675-982-8439 | Hours 9-5pm
This is a branch of the PNG National Museum,
Port Moresby
Former Curator: Alistair Norrie
This museum began in the early 1980's as a small museum
at the so called "Yamamoto Bunker" in Rabaul,
and was moved to Kokopo to
accomidate the growing collection, and in anticpation of a volcanic
eruption. The museum's collection was largely
assembled and donated by the efforts of Brian
Bennett. The original board of directors included: David Lindley,
Brian Bennett, Alister Norrie and Dick Joyce. This museum contains
a large collection of WWII artifacts from the Rabaul related to the
history of the area, including local art & culture, German
colonial period, prewar and WWII Japanese occupation.
(far left, outside fence) British or Japanese manufactured
6" gun.
(far right, foreground) Unitdentified green artillery piece - 75mm pack
howitzer?
Japanese Tanks,
Vehicles & Equipment
Type 95 Ha Go Light Tank
Surrendered Rabaul area in September 1945, missing turret and panels
Type 95 Ha Go Tankette
Surrendered Rabaul area in September 1945
Tracked Recovery Vehicle
Surrendered Rabaul area in September 1945
Generator Truck
Recovered from Vazin Plantation
Special Purpose Vehicle
Surrendered Rabaul area in September 1945
Japanese Steam Roller
Surrendered Rabaul area in September 1945
Vickers SR I Light Amphibious Tank
Surrendered Rabaul area in September 1945
Japanese Generator Truck
Recovered from Vazin Plantation to the museum in the 1980s. Perfectly intact, a tree fell onto the truck at the musem, damaging it.
Japanese
Naval Locomotive
610mm narrow guage rail, powered by a Chevrolet four cylinder engine. Recovered from Tobera Airfield during the 1980s
Type 97 Motorcycle
Pair of motorcycle frames displayed outdoors
Japanese Search Light
Japanese searchlight
recovered from Vimmy Plantation (Tobera) area. Lifted manually
and transported to the museum in the 1980s.
Japanese Artillery & Machine Guns
6" Naval Gun
150mm Cannon Type 89 (1929) Serial
Number 22
37mm Infantry Gun Type 11 (1922)
75mm
Mountain Howitzer Type 94 Serial Number 1009
120mm Dual Purpose Gun Type 10 (1921)
120mm Dual Purpose Gun Type 10 (1921)
Kokopo Museum Upstairs
Zero 20mm with ammo drum
7.7mm Beaufort Wreck at Gasmata (3 wrecks there)
B-17 waist gun from #543
37mm cannon from P-39 wreck in the Rabaul area
Aircraft
Wrecks & Wreckage
B-25C "Skilla" Serial
Number 42-64570
Nose art on display
B-17E "Naughty
But Nice" Serial
Number 41-2430
Recovered
cockpit section on display.
B-17E "Why
Don't We Do This More Often" Serial Number 41-2429
Recovered
radio and waist door on display
A6M2
Model 21 Zero
Forward fuselage and wings displayed outdoors without engine, attached to the tail section of A6M3 Zero 3390
F4U-1
Corsair Bureau
Number 02566
Recovered from crash site, displayed 'in situ'
CAC
Wirraway
Frame only, recovered from Vunakanau area
Engines
& Aircraft Parts on Display
Sakai 12 Radial Engine
Recovered from B5N2 Kate at Jacquinot Bay
B5N Kate Propeller
Pilot Sugihara shot down by Australian anti-aircraft gunners on January 20, 1942, crashed onto Mother.
J1N1 Irving
Gun mount for 20mm cannons recovered from Vunakanau Airfield
Guns,
Bombs & Miscellaneous Relics
B-17 Top Turret
Frame from
B-17 from China Straights
Japanese
Radio Equipment
Salvaged from a Japanese
Navy radio station tunnel in town. The Naval Headquarters was located
at the top of Mango Avenue up towards the hills.
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